Why and how i wrote a kids' book about monsters!

Why write about Why write about monsters?monsters?

“Follow your Bliss,” Joseph Campbell once said. My bliss was found in the world of fairy tales, make believe, and long ago.

I read about it and I wrote about it.

Fairy TalesFairy Tales

I thought about my favorite genres.

Make BelieveMake Believe

Atlantis

Long, long agoLong, long ago

Anything that had to do with ancient civilizations.

These interests have led me to a love of reading and writing, which has shaped These interests have led me to a love of reading and writing, which has shaped my life. I have always read and always written. In fact, my first story was about my life. I have always read and always written. In fact, my first story was about

a mermaid.a mermaid.

I couldn’t write, of course, when I was five years old. My mother wrote down my words and I drew pictures.

??

I wanted to get kids to read.

As a teacher, and a mother, I soon found out that not everybody liked to read. In fact, they hated reading.

My brothers

son

son

son

Many of my students

Monsters-Real and pretend?Monsters-Real and pretend?

One thing EVERYBODY is interested in are monsters.

I decided I had to write a book about them. That would get anybody to read.

How did this brainstorm evolve to How did this brainstorm evolve to become a book?become a book?

There were lots of books There were lots of books about mythical, pretend about mythical, pretend monsters. So I checked to monsters. So I checked to see if there were any books see if there were any books about real monsters.about real monsters.

Books In Print  (BooksInPrint)

I went to all of these websites and typed in the word “monster.” Then I checked what books were listed that appealed to middle grade readers.

These were some of the books I found. None of them were the type of book I wanted to write.

I was advised that the way to “break in” wasI was advised that the way to “break in” was to get a fat resume. I published in magazines, newspapers and won writing to get a fat resume. I published in magazines, newspapers and won writing

contests.contests.Competitions

Magazines

Local Newspapers

These are some of the publications.

Studying, or parsing, what I wanted Studying, or parsing, what I wanted to be published in was necessary. to be published in was necessary.

Publisher’s Weekly Fall and Spring Catalogue

Research-I searched internet with search engines, Research-I searched internet with search engines, asked the local librarian for help, made phone asked the local librarian for help, made phone

calls.calls.

I used these:JSTORRQuestiaDuck DuckGo

I got help from these internet site:http://www.teachthought.com/technology/100-search-engines-for-academic-research/

I wrote on weekends, I wrote on weekends, summer breaks (I’m a summer breaks (I’m a

teacher) and finallyteacher) and finally

3 years later3 years later

I had finished I had finished my first draftmy first draft

My students from Lincoln Junior High (in Naperville, IL) were my FIRST editors.My students from Lincoln Junior High (in Naperville, IL) were my FIRST editors.

These were the notes I wrote as the kids critiqued what they read.

I sent it to Seven housesI sent it to Seven houses

All American Beasts

I sent it to seven publishing houses with this title.I thought it was quite clever, the title reminiscent of a sports team. Plus, all my monsters came from North America.

6 months later, Christy Ottaviano of 6 months later, Christy Ottaviano of Henry Holt sent me a letter of Henry Holt sent me a letter of encouragement and advice.…encouragement and advice.…

I went through I went through many revisions…many revisions…

Finally, I received a Finally, I received a ContractContract

I had 6 months to get the book I had 6 months to get the book ready.ready.

Copy editingCopy editing Checking each Checking each

fact, three times fact, three times (using library (using library

resources, making resources, making phone calls, phone calls, documenting)documenting)

Updating Updating informationinformation

And sightingsAnd sightings

How much Control did I have in the making of the book?

Title was changed

All American Beasts…………became………………Monsters and Water Beasts

Cast of characters

Loup Garou,Hodag, Hag,Plat Eye,Flathead Lake Monster and more………….

Deleted (They made the book TOO LONG)

The “first” stories of all the creatures

Researched, revised and added………………………………..Then Deleted

Because they made the book TOO LONG

Illustrator

Chosen…………………………………by the editor AND he was amazing!I

His artwork fit my book perfectly.

This is the artist:This is the artist:

Sergio Ruzzier

In the months before publication, he sent me In the months before publication, he sent me illustrations of the monsters.illustrations of the monsters.

Finally, Finally, HenryHenry Holt presented Holt presented

Thousands of kids have read it and that is exactly what I wanted, kids reading.

If you have any questions on monsters, If you have any questions on monsters, writing, publishing or,kids’ books writing, publishing or,kids’ books

contact me at contact me at

co co karenhokansonmiller.comkarenhokansonmiller.com

Or on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/karenemilymille/